The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, August 22, 1894, Image 1
itti? ana
TBS SUMTER
" Kst?bttsbed April, 1850.
"Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's .and Truth's."
THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jane. 1366
Consolidated Aug. 2,1881.
SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1894.
New Series-Yoi. XIV. No. 4.
Published Every Wednesday,
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?wwiwaw^awi^i?i^?
COm*I?MT, Wiaai BYTNI AUTHOR.
R , _ ; CB&PTEB xm. ^ ?
THOMIS BECOMES A GOD. *
Little did I, plain Thomas Wingfield,
gentleman, know when I rose that morn?
ing that before sunset I should be a god,
'and, after Montezuma, the emperor, the
most honored man, or rather god, in the
Caty of Mexico.
It came about thus: When I had break?
fasted with the household of thc Prince
Guatemoc, I was led to thc hall of justice,
which was named the "tribunal of God.'*
Hero on a golden throne sat Montezuma,
administering justice in such pomp as I
'cannot describe. About him were his
counselors and great lords, and before him
was placed ahornan skull crowned with
emeralds so large that ablaze of light went
up from them. In his hand also he held
an arrow for a scepter. Certain chiefs or ca
ziques were on their trial for treason, nor
were they left long in doubt as to their
fate, for when some evidence had been
heard they wej&askedgwhat they had to
say in their ?efense. inch of t hem told
id shotts ;f8te?f
liad said and^
J took ti?? pBintedrscroll of
their indictnjfap andjjjjgjpked it with the
arrow in his hand where the picture of
each prisoner appeared upon the scroll
Thenjfchey were led away to death, but how
they died I do not know.
When this trial was finished, certain
priests entered the hall . clothed in sable
robes, their matted hair hanging down
their hacks. They were, fierce, wild eyed
men of great dignity, and I shivered when
I saw them. I noticed also that they
alone made small reverence to the majesty
of Montezuma. The counselors and no?
bles having fallen back, these priests en?
tered into talk with the emperor, and
presently two of them carne forward, and
taking me from the custody of the guards
led me forward before the throne. Then
of a sudden I was commanded to strip my?
self of my garments, and this I did, with
no little shame, till I stood naked before
them all. Now the priests came forward
and examined every part of me closely.
On my arms were the scars left by De Gar?
cia's sword, and on my breast the scarcely
healed marks of the puma's teeth and
claws. These wounds they scanned, ask?
ing how I had come by thom. I told them,
and thereupon they carried on a discussion
among themselves and out of my hearing,
which grew so warm that at length they
appealed to the emperor to decide the point.
HQ thought awhile, and. I heard him say:
"The blemishes do not come from with?
in the body, nor were they upon it at birth,
but have been inflicted by the violence of
man and beast."
Then the priests consulted together
again, and presently their leader spoke
some words into the ear of Montezuma.
He nodded, and rising from his throne
came toward me, who stood naked and
shivering before bim, for the air of Mexi?
co is keen. As. he advanced he loosed a
chain of emeralds and gold that hung
about his neck and unclasped the royal
cloak from his shoulders. Then with his
own hand he put the chain about my
throat and the cloak upon my shoulders,
and having humbly bent the knee before
me, as though in adoration, he cast his
arms about me and embraced me.
i4Hail, most blessed, ' ' he said, "divine
son of Quetzal holder of the spirit of Tez?
cat, soul of the world, creator of the
world What have we done that you
should honor us thus with your presence
for a season ^ What can we do to pay the
honor back? You created us and all this
country; behold, while you tarry with us,
it is yours, and we are nothing but your
servants! Order and your commands shall
be obeyed; think and your thought shall
be executed before it can pass your lips
O Tezcat, I, Montezuma, your servant, of?
fer you my adoration and through me the
adoration of all my people, and again he
bowed the knee.
"We adore yon, O Tazcati" chimed in
the priests.
Now I remained silent and bewildered,
for of all this foolery I could understand
nothing, and while I stood thus Montezu?
ma clapped his hands and women entered,
bearing beautiful clothing with them and
a wreath of flowers. The clothing they
put upon my body and the wreath of flow?
ers on my head, worshiping me thc while
and saying: "Tezcat, who died yesterday,
is come again. Be joyful; Tezcat has come
again in the body of the captive Teule."
Then I understood that I was now a
god and the greatest of gods, though at
that moment within myself I felt more of
a fool than I had ever been before.
And now men appeared, grave ?nd rev?
erend in appearance, bearing lutes in their
hands. I was told that these were my
tutors, and with them a train of royal
pages, who were to bo my servants. They
led me forth from the hall, making music
as they went, and before mc marched a
herald, calling out that this was the god
Tezcat, soul of the world, creator of tho
world, who had come again to visit his
people They led mo through all the courts
and endless chambers of thc palace, and
wherever I went man, woman and child
bowed themselves to the earth before mo
and worshiped me, Thomas Wingfield of
Ditchingham, in thc county of Norfolk,
till I thought that I must be mad.
Then they placed me in a litter and car?
ried me down the hill Chapoltepec and
along causeways and through streets till
we came to the great square of the temple.
Before me went heralds and priests, af
me followed pages and nobles, and ever
we passed the multitudes prostrated the.
selves till I bogan to understand h<
wearisome a thing it is to be a god- Ne
they carried me through the wall of ?
pents and up the winding paths of t
mighty teocalli till we reached the su:
mit, where the temples and idols stoc
and here a great drum beat, and thc pries
j sacrificed victim after victim in myhon<
! and I grew sick with the sight of wickc
f ness and blood. Presently they invited i
to descend fran the litter, laving rich cs
I pets and flowers for my feet' to tread o
and I was much afraid, for I thought th
they were about to sacrifice mc to mysc
or some other divinity. But this was n
so. They led me to the edge of the pyr
mid, or as near as I would go, for I shrai
back lest they should seize me sudden
and cast me over the edge. And there ti
, high priest called out my dignity to ti
thousands who were assembled beneat'
and every, one of them bent the. knee i
adoration' of me; the priests above and tl
multitudes below. And so it went on ti
I grew dizzy with the worship, and tl
shouting, and the music, and the sights <
death, and very thankful was I when i
last they carried me back to Chapoltepec
Here new honors awaited me, for I wi
conducted to a splendid range of apar
men ts next to those of the emperor hin
self, and I was told that all Montezuma
household were at my command and thi
he who refused to do my bidding shoul
die.
So at last I spoke and said it was m
bidding that I should be suffered to ret
awhile till a feast was prepared for me i
Hie apartments of Guatemoc the prino
for there I hoped to meet Otomie.
My tutors and the nobles who attende
me answered that Montezuma, my servan 1
had trusted that I would feast with hil
that night. Still my command should t
done. Then they left me, saying that the
would come again in an hour to lead m
to the banquet. Now I threw off the en
blems of my godhead and cast myself dow
on cushions to rest and think, and a cei
tain exultation took possession of me, fe
was I not a god, and had I not power a)
most absolute? Still, being of a caution
mind, X wondered why I was a god an
how long my power would last.
Before the hour had gone by, pages an?
nobles entered, bearing new robes, whic!
were put upon my body, and .fresh flower
4p crown my head, and EWafli led away t
4he apartments of Guatenioc, :air wane:
.going'oefore mo who played upon irtstru
men ts of'music. ' j" ^
Here Guatemoc the prince waited to re
ceive me, which he did as though I, hi
captive and companion, was the first o
kings.; And yet I thought that I saw mer
riment in his eye, mingled with sorrow
. Bending forward, I spoke to him in i
whisper:
"What does all this mean, prince?" '.
said. ''Am' I befooled, or am I indeed i
god?"
"Hush!" ho answered, booing low ant
speaking beneath his breath, r" It mean;
both good and ill for you, my friend Teule
Another time I will tell you." Then h<
added aloud: "Does it please you, O Tez
cat, god of gods, that we should sit ai
meat with you, or will you eat alone?"
''The gods like good company, prince,'
I said.
Now, during this talk I had discoverec
that among those gathered in the hall wai
the Princess Otomie. So when we passet
to the low table around which we were tx
sit on cushions I hung back, watching
where she would place herself, and ther
at once seated myself beside her. This
caused-some little confusion among the
company, for the place of I mor had been
prepared for me at the head of the table
the seat of Guatemoc being to my righi
and that ofhis wife, the royal Tecuichpo,
to my left.
"Your seat is yonder, O Tezcat, " she
said, blushing beneath her olive skin as
she spoke.
"Surely a god may sit where he chooses,
royal Otomie," I answered. "Besides," 1
added in a low voice, ''what better place
can he find than by thc side of the most
lovely goddess on the earth?"
Again she blushed and answered; "Alas,
I am no goddess, but only a mortal maid!
listen. ?f you desire that I should be your
companion at our feasts, you must issue
it as a command. None will dare to diso?
bey you, not even Montezuma, my father. "
So I rose and said in very halting Aztec
to the nobles who waited on me, "It is
my will that my place shall always be set
by the side of thc Princess Otomie."
At these words Otomie blushed even
more, and a murmur went round among
the guests, while Guatemoc first looked
angry and then laughed. But the nobles,
my attendants, bowed, and their spokes?
man answered:
"The words of Tezcat shall be obeyed.
Let the seat of Otomie, the royal princess,
the favored of Tezcat, be placed by the side
of the god."
Afterward this was always done, except
when I ate with Montezuma himself.
Moreover, the Princess Otomie became
known throughout the city as "the blessed
princess, thc favored of Tezcat," for so
strong a hold had custom and superstition
upon this people that they thought it the
greatest of honors to her, who was among
the first ladies in the land, that he who for
a little space was supposed to hold thc
spirit of tho soul of the world should deign
to desire her companionship when he ate.
Now the feast went on, and presently I
made shift to ask Otomie what all this
might mean.
"Alas!" she whispered, "you do not
know, nor dare I tell you now. But I will
say this, though you who are a god may
sit where you will today an hour shall
come when you must lie where you would
not. Listen. When we have finished eat
1 ing, say that it is your wish to walk in the
' gardens of the palace, and that I should
accompany you. Then I may find a chance
to speak."
Accordingly, when the feast was over, I
I said that I desired to walk in the gardens
with the Princess Otomie, and we went
out and wandered under the solemn trees
that are draped in a winding sheet of gray
moss, which, hanging from every bough
as though the forest had been decked with
the white beards of an army of aged men,
waved and rustled sadly in the keen night
air. But, alas! we might not bc alone, for
after us at a distance of 2$ paces followed
all my crowd of attendant nobles, together
with fair dancing girls and minstrels, arm?
ed with their accursed flutes, on which they
blew in season and out of it, dancing as
they blew. In vain did I command them
to bc silent, telling them that it was writ?
ten of old that there is a time to play and
dance and a time to cease from dancing,
for in this alone they would not obey me.
Never could I bc at peace because of thc
then or thereafter, and not till now did
learn how great a treasure is solitude
Still we were allowed to walk togethi
under the trees, and though the clamor <
music pursued us wherever wo went, vi
were soon deep in talk. Then it was thi
I learned how dreadful was the fate whic
overshadowed me.
"Know, O Teule," said Otomie, for si
would call me by the old name when thei
was none to hear, "this is the custom <
our land-thafrevery year a young captn
should be.chosen to be the earthly imag
of the god Tezcat, who created the worlc
Only tw?^hings ar? necessary to this cai
tive-namely, that his blood should be n<
ble and that his person should be beaut
ful and without flaw or blemish. The da
' that you came hither, Teule, chanced t
be the day of choosing a new captive t
personate the god, and you have bee:
chosen because you are both noble an
more beautiful than any man in Anahuac
and also because, being of the people of th
Teules, the children of Quetzal, of whor
so many rumors have reached us, am
whose coming my father, -Montezuma
dreads more than anything in the world
it was thought by the priests that you ma,
avert their anger from us and the anger c
the gods."
Now Otomie paused as one who ha
something to say that she can scarcely fini
words' to fit, but,' I remembering only wha
had been said, swelled inwardly with th
sense of my own greatness and becaus
this lovely princess had declared that
was the most beautiful man in Anahuac
I, who, though I was well looking enough
had never before been called "beautiful'
by man, woman or child But in thi
case, as in many another, pride went be
fore a fall
"It must be spoken, Teule," Otomi
continued "Alas, that it should be
who am fated to tell you. Fora yea
you will rule as god in this city of Te
noct itlan, and except for certain c?r?monie
that you must undergo and certain art
which you must learn.none will troubl
you. Your slightest wish will be a law
and when you smile on any it shall be ai
om -1 of good to them, and they will bles
? you. Even my father, Montezuma, wil
treat you with reverence as an equal o:
more. Every delight shall be yours excep
that of marriage, and this will be with
held t?l the twelfth month of thie year
Then tifi? four most beaut?ful maidens ii
the land: willie given* to you as brides."
"And who will choose them?" I asked
"Nay, I know not, Teule, who do noi
meddle in such mysteries," she answerec
hurriedly. "Sometimes tile god is judge
and sometimes the priests judge for him.
It is as it may chance. Listen now to th<
end of my tale, and you will surely f orgei
the rest. For one month you will liv?
with your wives, and this month you wil]
pass in feasting at all the noblest houses
in the city. On the last day of the month,
however, yon will be placed in a royal
barge, and, together with your wives, pad?
dled across the lake to a place that is
named Melting of Metals. Thence yon
will be led to tho teocalli, named House o?
Weapons, where your wives will bid fare?
well to you forever, and there, Teule-alas,
that I must say it!-you are doomed to be
offered as a sacrifice to the god whose spir?
it you hold, thc great god Tezcat, for your
heart will be torn from your body, and
your head will be struck from your shoul?
ders and set upon the stake that is known
as 'post of heads. ' "
Now, when I heard this dreadful doom,
I groaned aloud, and my knees trembled
so that I almost fell to thc ground Then
a great fury seized me, and forgetting my
father's counsel I blasphemed thc gods of
that country and the people who worship
; ed them, first in thc Aztec and Maya lan?
guages, then, when my knowledge of these
tongues failed me, in Spanish and good
English. But Otomie, who heard some of
? my words and guessed more, was seized
? with fear and lifted her hands, saying
"Curse not thc awful gods, I beseech
you, lest some terrible thing befall you at
once. If you are overheard, it will be
thought that you have an evil spirit and
not a good one, and then you must die
now and by torment. At the least the
gods, who are everywhere, will hear you."
"Let them hear," I answered "They
are false gods, and that country is accursed
which worships them. They are doomed,
I say, and all their worshipers are doomed
Nay, I care not if I am heard-as well die
now by torment as live a year in the tor?
ment ot approaching death. But I shall
not die alone, All the sea of blood that
your priests have shed cries-out for venge?
ance to the true God, and he will avenge. "
Thus I raved on, being mad with fear
and impotent anger, while the Princess
Otomie stood terrified and amazed at my
blasphemies, and the flutes piped and the
dancers danced behind us. And as I raved
I saw that the mind of Otomie wandered
from my words, for she was staring to?
ward thc cast like one who sees a vision
Then I looked also toward the east and
saw the sky was alight there, for from
thc edge of the horizon to the highest parts
of heaven spread a fan of pale and fearful
light powdered over with sparks of fire,
the handle of the fan resting on the earth,
as it were, while its wings covered the
eastern sky. Now I ceased my cursing and
stood transfixed, and as I stood a cry of
terror arose from all the precincts of the
palace, and people poured from every door
to gaze upon the portent that flared and
blazed in thc east. Presently Montezuma
himself came out, attended by his great
lords, and in that ghastly light I saw that
his lips worked and his hands writhed
over each other. Nor was tho miracle done
with, for anon from the clear sky that
hung over thc city descended a ball of fire,
which seemed to rest upon the points of
the lofty temple in the great square, light?
ing up the teocalli as with tho glare of
day. It vanished, but where it had been
another light now burned, for the temple
of Quetzal was afire.
Now cries of fear and lamentation arose
from all who beheld these wonders on the
hill of Chapoltepcc and also from the city
below. Even I was frightened, I do not
know why, for it may well be that the
blaze of light which we saw on that and
after nights was nothing but the bright?
ness of a comet, and that thc fire in the
temple was caused by a thunderbolt. But
to these people, and more especially to
Montezuma, whose mind was filled already
with rumors of thc coming of a strange
white race, whic h, as it was truly prophe?
sied, would bring his empire to nothing
ness, tho omen seemed very evil. Indeed,
If they had any doubt as to their meaning,
it was soon to be dispelled, in their mind
at least, for as we stood, wonder struck,
a messenger, panting and soiled with trav?
el, arrived among us, and prostrating him
A messenger, panting and soiled with
travel, arrived.
self before the majesty of the emperor he
drew a painted scroll from his robe and
handed it to an attendant noble. So de?
sirons was Montezuma to know its con?
tents that, contrary to all custom, he
snatched the roll from the hands of the
counselor, and unrolling it he began tc
read the picture writing by the baleful
light of the blazing sky and temple. Pres?
ently, as he watched and he read, Monte?
zuma groaned aloud, and casting down
the writing he covered his face with his
hands. As it chanced, it fell near to where
I stood, and I saw painted over it rude
pictures of ships of the Spanish rig and of
men in the Spanish armor. Then I un?
derstood why Montezuma groaned Thc
Spaniards had landed on his shores!
Now some of his counselors approached
him to console him, but he thrust them
aside, saying:
"Let me mourn-the doom that was
foretold has fallen upon the children of
Anahuac The children of Quetzal muster
on our shores and slay my people. Let me
mourn, I say."
At that moment another messenger came
from the palace, having grief written on
his face.
"Speak," said Montezuma.
"O king, forgive the tongue that must
tell such tidings. Your royal sister Pa
pan tzin was seized with terror at yonder
dreadful sight," and he pointed to the
heavens. "She lies dying in the palace!"
Now, when the emperor heard that his
sister, whom he loved, was dying, he said
nothing, but covering his face with his
royal mantle he passed slowly back to the
palace.
And all the while the crimson light
gleamed and sparkled in the east like some
monstrous and unnatural dawn, while the
temple of Quetzal burned fiercely in the
city beneath.
Now I turned- to the Princess Otomie,
who had stood by my side throughout,
overcome with wonder and trembling.
"Did I not say that this company was
accursed, princess of th? Otomie?"
"You said it, Teule," she answered,
"and it is accursed."
Then we went into the palace, and even
in this hour of fear after me came the
minstrels, as before.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ARISING OF PAPANTZIN.
On the morrow Papantzin died and was
buried with great pomp that same evening
in the burial ground at Chapoltepec, by
the side of the emperor's royal ancestors.
But, as will be seen, sho was not content
with their company. On that day also I
learned that to be a god is not all pleasure,
since it was expected of me that I must
master various arts, and chiefly the horrid
art of music, to which I never had any de?
sire. Still my own wishes were not allow?
ed to weigh in the matter, for there came
to me tutors, aged men who might have
found better employment, to instruct me
in the uso of the lute, and on this instru?
ment I must learn to strum. Others there
were also who taught me letters, poetry
and art, as they were understood among
the Aztecs, and all this knowledge I was
glad ol
As to this matter of my sacrifice I was
at first desperate. But reflection told me
that I had already passed many dangers
and come out unscathed, and therefore it
was possible that I might escape this one
also. At least death was still a long way
off, and for the present I was a god. So I
determined that, whether I died or lived,
while I lived I would live like a god and
take such pleasures as came to my hand,
and I acted on this resolve.
During the days that followed the death j
of Papantzin the palace and the city also
were plunged in ferment. The minds of
men were shaken strangely because of the
rumors that filled the air. Every night
the fiery portent blazed in the east, every
day a new wonder or omen was reported,
and with it some wild tale of the doings
of the Spaniards, who by most were held
to be white gods, thc children of Quetzal,
come back to take the land which their
forefathers ruled
But of all that were troubled none were
in such bad case as the emperor himself,
who during these weeks scarcely ate, drank
or slept, so heavy were his fears upon him.
In this trait he sent messengers to his an?
cient rival, that wise and severe man, Xe
za, the king of thc allied state of Tezcuco,
begging that ho would visit him. This
king came, an old man with a fierce and
gleaming eye, and I was witness to the in
terview that followed, for in my quality
of god I had full liberty of the palace and
even to be present at the councils of the
emperor and his nobles. When the two
monarchs had feasted together, Montezu- ,
ma spoke to Neza of thc 'matter of the
omens and of tho coming of the Teules,
asking him to lighten thc darkness by his
wisdom. Then Neza pulled his long gray
beard and answered that heavy as the
heart of Montezuma might be it must
grow still heavier lx;fore the end
"See, lord,"ho said, ,4I am so sure that
the days of our empire aro numbered that
I will play you at dice for my kingdoms
which you and your forefathers have ever
desired to win."
"Por what wager?" asked Montezuma.
"I will play you thus," answered Neza.
"You shall stake three fighting cocks of
which, should I win, I ask thc spurs only.
I set them against all tho wide empire of
Tezcuco."
"A small stake," said Montezuma
"Cocks arc many, and kingdoms are few. "
"Still it shall serve our turn," answer?
ed the aged king, "for know that we play
against fate. As the game goes, so shall
the issue De. If you win my kingdoms, all
is well; if I win thc cocks, then goodby to
the glory of Anahuac, for its people will
cease to Ix; a people, and strangers shall
possess the land."
' 'Let us play and see, ' ' said Montezuma.
And they went down to the place that is
called tlachco, where the games are set.
Here they began the match with dice, and
at first all went well for Montzenma, so
that he called aloud that already he was
lord of Tezcuco.
"May it be so, " answered the aged Neza,
and from that moment the chance changed,
for, strive as he would, Montezuma could
not win another point, and presently the
set was finished, and Neza had won the
cocks. Now the music played, and court?
iers came forward to give the king hom
age on his success. But he rose, sighing,
and said:
"I would far sooner lose my kingdoms
than have won these fowls, for if I had
lost my kingdoms they would still have
passed into thc hands of one of my own
race. Now, alas! my possessions and his
must come under the hand of strangers,
who shall cast down our gods and bring
our names to nothing. "
And having spoken thus, he rose, and
taking farewell of the emperor he departed
for his own land, where, as it chanced, he
died very shortly without living to see the
fulfillment of his fears.
On the morrow of his departure came
further accounts of the doings of the
Spaniards that plnnged Montezuma into
still greater alarm. In his terror he sent
for an astronomer noted throughout the
land for the truth of his divinations. Thc
astronomer came and was received by the
emperor privately. What he told him I do
not know, but at least it was nothing
pleasant, for that very night men were
commanded to pulldown the house of this
sage, who was buried in its ruins.
Two days after the death of the astron?
omer Montezuma bethought him that, as
he believed, I also was a Teule and could
give him information. So at the hour of
sunset he sent for me. bidding me walk
with him in thc gardens. I went thither,
followed by my musicians and attendants,
who would never leave me in peace, but
he commanded that all should stand aside,
as he wished to speak with me alona
Then he began to walk beneath the mighty
cedar trees, and I with him, but keeping
one pace behind.
"Teule," he said at length, "tell me of
your countrymen and why they have come
to these shores. See that you speak truth."
"They are no countrymen of mine, O
Montezuma," I answered, "though my
mother was one of them."
"Bid I not bid you speak the truth,
Teule? If your mother was one of them,
must you not also be of them, for are you
not of your mother's bone and blood?"
"As the king pleases," I answered, bow?
ing. Then I began and told him of the
Spaniards-of their . country, their great?
ness, their cruelty and ti cir greed of gold,
and ho listened eagerly, though I think
that he believed little of what I said, for
his fear had made him very suspicious.
When I had done, he spoke and said:
"Why do they come here to Anahuac?"
"I fear, O king, that they come to take
the land, or at the least to rob it of all its
treasure and to destroy its faiths."
"What, then, is your counsel, Teule?
How can I defend myself against these
mighty men, who are clothed in metal
and ride upon fierce wild beasts, who have
instruments and make a noise like thun?
der, at the sound of which their adversa?
ries fall dead by hundreds, and who bear
weapons of shining silver in their hands?
Alas, there is no defense possible, for they
are the children of Quetzal come back to
take the land ! From my childhood I have
known that this evil overshadowed me,
and now it is at my door. "
"If I, who am only a god, may venture
to speak to the lord of the earth," I an?
swered, "I say that the reply is easy. Meet
force by force. The Teules arc few, and
you can muster 1,000 soldiers for every
one of theirs. Fall on them at once; do
not hesitate till their prowess finds them
friends, but crush them. "
"Such is the counsel of one whose moth?
er was a Teule," the emperor answered,
with sarcasm and bitter meaning. "Tell
me now, counselor, how am I to know
that in fighting against them I shall not j
be fighting against the gods; how even am j
I to learn the true wishes and purposes of I
men or gods who cannot speak my tongue
and whose tongue I cannot speak?"
"It is easy, O Montezuma, " I answered. !
"I can speak their tongue. Send me to
discover for you. "
Now, as I spoke thus, my heart bounded
with hope, for if once I could come among
the Spaniards perhaps I might escape the
altar of sacrifice; also they seemed a link
between me and home. They had sailed
hither in ships, and ships can retrace their
path, for though at present my lot was j
not all sorrow it will be guessed that 1 ?
should have been glad indeed to find my?
self once more among Christian men.
Montezuma looked at me awhile and
answered:
"You must think me very foolish,
Teule. What, shall I send you to tell my
fears and weakness to your countrymen I
and to show them tho joints in my har- |
They began the match with dice.
ness? Do you then suppose that I do not j
know you for a spy sent to this land by j
these same Teules to gather knowledge of j
tho land? Fool, I knew it from the first.
Highest of all in Leavening Pow
and, by Huitze?, were you not voVr??. to
Tezcat your heart should smoke tomorrow
on the altar of Hujtzel. Be warned and;
give me no more false counsels, lest your
end prove swifter than you think. Learn
that I have asked these questions of you
to a purpose, and by the command of the
gods, as it was written on the hearts of
those sacrificed this day. This was the
purpose and this was the command that I
might discover your secret mind, and that
I should shun whatever advice you chanced
to give. Y'i counsel me to fight the
Teules; therefore I will not fight them,
but meet them with gifts and -fair words,
for I know well that you would have me
to do that which would bring me to my
doom."
Thus he spoke very fiercely and in a low
voice,- his head held low and his arms
crossed upon his breast, and I saw that he
shook with passion. Even then, though I
was very much afraid, for god as I was a
nod from this mighty king would have
sent me to death by torment, I wondered
at the folly of one who in everything else .
was so wise. Why should he doubt me
thus and allow superstition to drag him
down to ruin? Today I see the answer.
Montezuma did not these things himself, j
but because the hand of destiny worked
with his hand and the voice of destiny
spoke in his voice. The gods of the Aztecs
were false gods indeed, but I for one be?
lieve that they had life and intelligence,
for those hideous shapes of, stone were the
habitations of devils, and the priests spoke
truth when they said that the sacrifice of
men was pleasing to their gods.
To these devils the king went for coun?
sel through thc priests, and now this doom
was on them, that they must give false
counsel to their own destruction, and to'
the destruction of those who worshiped'
them, as was decreed by one more power?
ful than they.
Kow, while we were talking the sun had
sunk swiftly, so that all the world was
dark. But the light!; still lingered on the
snowy crests of the volcanoes Popo and
Ixtac, staining them an awful red. Never
before to my sight had the shape of the;
dead woman whoso everlasting bier is,'
Ixtac* s bulk seamed so clear and wonder?
ful as on th At night, for either it was so.
or my fancy gave it the very shape and
color of a woman's corse steeped in blood;
and laid out for burial Nor was it my
phantasy alone, for when Montezuma had'
finished upbraiding me he chanced to look
up, and his eyes falling on the mountain'
remained fixed there.
"Look now, Teule!" he said presently,
with a solemn laugh; "yonder lies the
corse of the nations of Anahuac washed
in a water of blood and made ready for
burial. Is she not terrible in death?"
As he spoke the words and turned to go,
a sound of doleful wailing came from the
direction of the mountain, a very wild
and unearthly sound that caused the blood1
in my veins to stand still. Now Monte-:
zuma caught my arm in his fear, and we
gazed together on Ixtac, and it seemed to
us that this wonder happened, for in
that red and fearful light the red figure of:
the sleeping woman arose, or appeared to.
rise, from its bier of stone. It arose slow-'
ly, like one who awakes from sleep, and
presently it stood upright upon the moun?
tain's brow, towering high in the air.
There it stood, a giant and awakened
corpse, its white trappings stained with
blood, and we trembled to sec it.
For awhile the wraith remained thus
gazing toward the city of Tenoctitlan; then
suddenly it threw its vast arms upward as
though in grief, and at that moment tho.
night rushed in upon it and covered it, '
while the sound of wailing died slowly
away.
''Say, Teule," gasped thc emperor, "do
I not well to be afraid when such portents
as these meet my eyes day by day? Heark?
en to the lamentations in the city; we
have not seen this sight alone. Listen how
the people cry aloud with fear and the.
priests beat their drums toavertthecmen.i
Weep on, ye people, and ye priests pray!
and do sacrifice! It is very fitting, for the
day of your doom is upon you. O Tenoc?
titlan, queen of cities, I sec you ruined
and desolate, your palaces blackened with;
fire, your temples desecrated, your pleas?
ant gardens a wilderness. I see your high
born women the wantons of stranger lords
and youi* princes their servants; the canals -
run red with the blood of your children:
your gateways are blocked with their bones..
Death is about you everywhere; dishonor
is your daily bread; desolation is your por?
tion. Farewell to you, queen of the cities,
cradle of my forefathers in which. I <vas
nursed!"
When Montezuma had made an end of
crying his prophecies, I asked him hum?
bly if I should summon to him the lords
who were in attendance upon him, but
who stood at some distance.
"Nay," he answered, "I would not have
them see me thus with grief and terror
upon my face. Whoever fears, at least I
must seem brava Walk with me awhile,
Teule, and if it is in your mind to murder
me I shall not grieve."
I made no answer, but followed him as
he led the way down the darkest of the
winding paths that run between the ce?
dar trees, where it would have been easy
for me to kill him if I wished, but I could
not see how I should ?>e advantaged by
the deed; also, though I knew that Mon?
tezuma was my enemy, my heart shrank
from the thought of murder. For awhile
or more he walked on without speaking,
now beneath the shadow of tho trees, and
now through open spaces of garden plant?
ed with lovely flowers, till at last wc came
'to the gates of the place where the royal
dead are said to rest. Now, in front of
these gates was an open space of turf on
which tho moonlight shone brightly, and
in the center of this space lay something
white, shaped like a woman. Here Monte?
zuma halted and looked at the gates, then
said:
"These gates opened four days since for
Papantzin, my sister. How long, I won?
der, w?l pass before they open for me?"
As he spoke the white shape upon the
grass, which I had seen and he had not
seen, stirred like an awaking sleeper.
As the snow shape upon tho mountain
had stirred, so this shape stirred; as it had
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